In photography, minister finds earthly divinity
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In a way, Stanley Fung says, photography is a religious act. Capturing a certain moment and recording it is “an act to fight against the flow of time,” Fung said. “It’s an art of timeliness ... All the moments I’ve filmed are those most meaningful in my chaotic life. The pursuit of eternity is similar to religion,” he told Shanghai Daily.
Having worked as a minister for more than a decade, Fung linked his ministry and his photography skills with his faith, which lead to a collection of portrait photos featuring Biblical characters. The series currently on show at the Shanghai Center of Photography (SCoP) is named “Dust Icons,” and showcases figures such as King David and Samuel the Prophet as well as the Virgin Mary.
Fung said the idea of “dust” comes from the beginning of the Old Testament that describes how God created human beings from dust. “Human beings are no different from dust — the most low-born thing one can think of — in terms of fundamental materiality,” Fung said. “Ashes to ashes and dust to dust.”
All characters are embodied by his parishioners, because he is “too shy to take photos of strangers,” the photographer said. He believes that those biblical figures are just like all ordinary ones
“We all are struggling with everyday life and various choices. It’s just they somehow felt connected with God and responded to his summons despite their struggles,” Fung added, “just like my parishioners and I did.”
Liu Heung Shing, the Pulitzer-winning photographer and founder of the SCoP, said he was impressed by the relationship of the photographer and the models. “It is exceptional. You can tell the complete trust toward the photographer through the look in their eyes, their facial expressions and body language,” he said. “This is why I often say the images go beyond the words.”
Among the photos exhibited is a portrait of a deceased Taiwan native gospel singer named Xiao Wen. She was diagnosed with rectal cancer when she was pregnant. The doctor advised her to stop pregnancy and receive surgery. She refused and insisted to give birth to the child.
“She told the doctor that she could not think of any reason why a mother would sacrifice her child to save her own life,” Fung recalled.
Xiao Wen suffered through great pain during the pregnancy. After the baby was born, her condition deteriorated. She received repeated surgeries, had her stomach, liver and more organs removed. Eight days before she died, her husband asked Fung to portrait her for her husband and child.
“I was very nervous that day. When I went over to her to pull back her hair, she held onto my hand and said to me: ‘Minister, I only have one chance. Please do not stop until you have the perfect photo’,” Fung recalled. “She died at 33, the exact age Jesus died on the cross.”
“As a woman, she married the man she loves. As a mother, she gave her child all she had. She said she has no regrets,” he continued.
He named Xiao Wen’s portrait “The Lord’s Handmaiden.”
The setting for the photos is his office in his Taipei church. Most of the costumes are made with second-hand clothes the church collected. The props are handmade. The light always comes in from the left because there’s only one window in his office. All the photos are black and white. “Black-and-white photos are more abstract and lend some historical color,” he said. “The Bible is not an invention of some religious talent, but a compiled collection of stories over the ages. I want to pass down the historical meaning.”
Juan I-Jong, a Taiwan photographer, said Fung’s works had “the most depth” he had ever seen in Chinese photography. “Through all these faces, Fung tries to show the naiveness of the newborn, the purity of souls, the shackles of destiny, the maze of exploration, the crave for being saved, the understanding after repentance and the constant faith,” he once wrote.
However, Fung never considered himself as an artist, To him, photography is just another way to preach.
“Almost all the forms of art are originated in religious beliefs, to serve the religion. They sure are ways to embellish life, but art itself is gradually idolized,” Fung said. “For example, Cai Yuanpei (a well-known Chinese educator) once said that religion should be replaced with aesthetics. The divinity has been lost, and what I am doing is to try to find it again.”
“Figure of Speech”
Date: Through February 29
Venue: Shanghai Center of Photography
Address: 2555-1 Longteng Ave
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